Tips for stopping bad breath

Chinese herbs, garlic, bad oral hygiene – there are many possible culprits for bad breath. Fortunately, there are many things that can be done to prevent this embarrassing odor.

Chief among the precautionary measures one can take to stop bad breath is to make sure to have good oral hygiene – this includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day (ideally after every meal), using a fluoride mouth rinse,flossing at least once a day, and brushing your tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush. It’s also imperative to visit your dentist at least twice a year. Regular dental visits will not only ensure the health of your teeth and mouth, but a dentist can make sure that you do not have a medical condition or lifestyle factor (i.e. diet) that is effecting your breath. Still on the fence? Studies have shown that about 80 percent of bad breath comes from an oral source, including cavities, gum disease, tonsils that have trapped food particles, cracked fillings, and unclean dentures.

When in a pinch, mouthwashes, gum, mints, and toothpastes are effective, quick fix remedies for temporary relief. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that while brushing and flossing will help freshen up your mouth and prevent food from accumulating (which leads to tooth decay and bad breath) after you’ve eaten the garlic and onions, it will not treat the root cause of the bad breath as the odor comes from the lungs. (After you swallow your food, it’s absorbed into your bloodstream and then moves to your lungs.) An easy solution once you’ve pinpointed that foods rather than a medical condition are causing your bad breath is to simply eliminate those foods. However, if your bad breath is a condition more temporary than eating a spicy latent dish, schedule an in-depth cleaning and examination with your dentist.

Another common cause for bad breath is dry mouth. An easy remedy is drinking more water and chewing a piece of gum or sucking a sugarless candy as this will increase the saliva circulating in your mouth, which in turn will kill odor-causing bacteria. Lastly, smocking – which often causes dry mouth – may lead to bad breath as can crash dieting and high-protein diets.

About the author: Sherry Feldman is a guest blogger and contributor on behalf www.TopDentists.com.

About Guest

Since the launch of GenPink in 2007 various guest bloggers have contributed great content! If you have a post or topic idea you'd like to share please email PR (at) genpink (dot) com. Follow us on Twitter at @GenPink.
View all posts by Guest →

GenPink is about being a twenty something woman. Letting others know how our generation is different than those before us. We are career women, single & married, girl friends, and individuals. GenPink is about balancing family and work, technology, entertainment, and exploration of new ideas.